'Sader Stories: Caleb Kenney

As the lone senior on this year’s Holy Cross team, Caleb Kenney has served in an important role as one of the squad’s leaders. That position has been particularly important this year, with the Crusaders having such a young team. Holy Cross added four freshmen and two transfers to the roster, and 10 out of 14 players are in either their freshman or sophomore year. While being counted on as the only senior might be intimidating to some, Kenney has relished that role this season.

“It’s definitely been an experience, and I’ve learned the best ways to do it and the ways you shouldn’t do it,” Kenney said. “I’ve been able to learn a lot about myself and the guys around me. I realize that I am the one with the most experience, and it is my job and my duty every day to be prepared and help lead them into battle.”

Just three years ago, Kenney was in his first season of collegiate basketball, trying to learn what it would take to be successful in the Patriot League. He has taken on a bigger role within the program every year, constantly developing into not only a leader, but one of the team’s most productive players on the court. 

 “When I first came in, I was focused primarily on the defensive end – rebounding, blocking shots, playing hard,” Kenney said. “Each year, I’ve made sure my development increased so that way I could have an opportunity to be more present not just on the defensive end, but on the offensive end as well. It has been a journey each year, as I’ve developed into the complete player I am now.”

That development has been recognized by people throughout the conference, as last season Kenney was named the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, in addition to earning second team All-Patriot League honors. He has continued to impress this year, ranking among the conference leaders in scoring (11.2 points per game), rebounding (4.8 rebounds per game), blocked shots (0.9 blocks per game) and field goal percentage (53.6 percent).

Over the course of his Holy Cross career, Kenney has totaled 1,043 points, 590 rebounds, 153 blocked shots and 100 steals. He recently became the first player in program history with at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 100 blocks and 100 steals.

But it is not only on the court where he has been impressive. Kenney also plays a huge role in the community, keeping the Crusaders active around Worcester and helping out those who are less fortunate. During his junior year, he was one of just 28 student-athletes from all sports across the nation selected for the Engaged Athlete Fellowship through The Team. This program empowered a diverse group of motivated student-athletes, supporting them to bolster nonpartisan civic engagement within their teams, campuses and broader communities.

“The Engaged Athlete Fellowship was nothing short of transformational,” Kenney said. “I’m so glad I did the program, because I was able to connect with a lot of people different people and gain some personal and professional experience that has helped shape what I want to do post college and post basketball.”

During his fellowship, Kenney focused on creating a program to help the children at Worcester East Middle School. He worked with the Worcester East administration to assist students who had been designated as food insecure. Kenney set up food drives as various Holy Cross sporting events, collecting donations and then packing them into bags and transporting them to the school to be given to the students in need.

“My idea for working with Worcester East Middle School was inspired by my parents, who have run a similar program at my dad’s church for over 10 years, where they partner with a local elementary school,” Kenney said. “I was able to see over the last decade how the program was run, learing the ins and outs of how they work with the kids and the administration at the school. I’ve always felt that food insecurity is something that is such a major issue in America and in the world in general. If I’m able to genuinely impact the lives of five children, and help them in their fight against hunger, then I feel like that is a success. And thankfully we have helped many more than that.”

In addition to his success on the court and in the community, Kenney has also been a standout student at Holy Cross. Set to graduate in May with a degree in political science, he has received several honors for his academic accomplishments. Kenney was named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll in both 2023 and 2024, in addition to being selected to the National Basketball Coaches Association Honors Court last year. 

“I have always loved learning and gaining knowledge, and the classroom is an extension of that,” Kenney said. “At Holy Cross you get a lot of different avenues where you can learn great things. I don’t want to ever take that for granted, so when I have the opportunity to learn I make sure I take full advantage.”

Once his time as a Crusader comes to an end, Kenney hopes to pursue a career as a professional basketball player. Following that, he looks forward to attending law school. But he still has a few games left in a Holy Cross uniform, including a Senior Day match-up with Bucknell this Saturday at the Hart Center. As his career winds to a close, Kenney will cherish every moment he has left on Mount St. James, where he has developed a deep connection with his teammates and coaches.

“The thing I will miss the most once my career is over will be the camaraderie,” Kenney said. “I have been with a lot of different players and coaches over my four years, but I’ve always felt a sense of camaraderie from the team, from the program itself and from the alums who come back and stay involved. They have all played a key role in my personal growth as a young man, helping me gain a better understanding of myself and the world around me.”

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